Call for a Protest Against

General Peter Pace!

 

Outspoken Homophobe & Head of U.S. Military

To Visit Chicago May 18^th

 

Open Organizing Meeting Set for This Friday

 

As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace is one of the foremost leaders of the Iraq occupation.  According to John Hopkins University, the U.S. invasion and occupation has killed over 650,000 Iraqis, not to mention the 3,200+ Americans killed.  In a just world, Peter Pace would be considered a war criminal.

 

To add insult to injury, General Pace is an outspoken homophobe.  Shortly before the 4^th anniversary of the Iraq invasion, he gave a lengthy interview with the Chicago Tribune in which he justified the ban on gays and lesbians in the military by calling us "immoral."  One doesn't have to be a war supporter to realize that an employment ban on gays is as immoral as the segregation of African Americans in the military two generations ago.

 

Please join us in planning an appropriate "welcome" for Pace's May 18^th visit to Chicago.  All who are interested in helping organize a protest are invited to attend an open planning meeting:

 

7 PM this Friday, April 13

Ann Sather's Restaurant

929 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago

(1/4 block east of the Red Line "Belmont" stop, free parking in the rear)

 

So that we can know how many to expect, please email LGBTliberation@aol.com or call 773.209.1187 by 9 PM, Thursday, April 12^th if you plan on attending.  Thank you!

 

Gay Liberation Network

Chicago Area CodePINK

Chicago Coalition Against War & Racism

8^th Day Center for Justice

 

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Prominent Anti-War Activist Cindy Sheehan

Speaks in Chicago Wednesday, April 11^th

 

Cindy Sheehan, the nation's foremost anti-war activist, will have an exclusive Chicago engagement at Grace Place, 637 S. Dearborn, 2^nd floor at 5 PM tomorrow, Wednesday, April 11^th.

 

Sheehan helped spark a rejuvenation of the anti-war movement in 2005 by demanding that President Bush be held accountable for the death of her son, Casey.  "Camp Casey" in Crawford, Texas drew together Gold Star Families for Peace and a host of other anti-war families and veterans groups to demand an immediate end to the war. 

 

In her recent article "Betrayed," Sheehan demanded an immediate end to funding of the war and denounced the Democratic leadership for giving President Bush another $100 billion to continue the death and devastation.  During her Chicago engagement, Sheehan will speak about an immediate end to war funding, the threat of war on Iran, and impeaching Bush.

 

The event will also serve as a fundraiser for the newly-formed Chicago Chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War.  A $10+ donation is requested at the door, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

 

Besides the Gay Liberation Network, Sheehan's Chicago speaking engagement is also co-sponsored by the 8^th Day Center for Justice, American Friends Service Committee, Chicago Coalition Against War & Racism, Chicago Area CodePINK, Christian Peacemaker Teams -- Chicago, HammerHard MediaWorks, International Solidarity Movement, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Neighbors for Peace, Northwest Indiana Coalition Against the Iraq War, Veterans for Peace, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, and World Can't Wait. 

 

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Take the Pledge to

Prevent an Anti-Gay

Constitutional Amendment

in Illinois

 

The religious right has been on a crusade to turn back the clock on rights for gays, women and any other people who don't fit their rigidly constructed theocracy.  In 2008, they might once again try for a referendum to put hate in the Illinois constitution.

 

Recently they passed an anti-gay constitutional amendment in nearby Wisconsin, making 25 states where Lesbians and Gays are now official second class citizens, where our people are losing health, pension and other benefits that came with the meager partnership rights that we had previously won.  In 2008 there likely will be a referendum on the Massachusetts state ballot to overthrow equal marriage rights in the one state where we have them.

 

If the bleeding away of our rights is to stop, regular folks like ourselves will need to organize and demonstrate for them -- to say NO MORE!  This is the way rights have always been won in the past.  This is the way we must defend them -- and expand them -- today.

 

If an anti-gay constitutional amendment gets on the ballot in Illinois, all of us must mobilize to defeat the measure through large rallies, actions at the marriage license bureau, and other non-violent ways.  Should the citizens of Illinois then vote to put hate into the constitution, we must take the extraordinary step of occupying the marriage license bureau.

 

Such a vote would not automatically put the anti-gay amendment into the constitution -- the legislature would have to do that.   But the legislature could cave into "public opinion" unless we energetically respond to the anti-gay vote.   We must be prepared to respond with a powerful demonstration of our refusal to go quietly into the night -- an occupation of a government office which is as much our right to have access to as anyone else's.

 

Please sign our pledge to stand up to the religious right's attacks on Lesbians and Gays.

 

Pledge to Defend Lesbian & Gay Rights

 

I, _________________________ (please print your name), pledge to help occupy the marriage license bureau if the voters pass a referendum advocating an anti-gay constitutional amendment here in Illinois. I understand that this may involve a risk of arrest, but that in the history of our country, civil rights progress has often only been won by breaking unjust and bigoted laws.

 

Signature:___________________________________________________________

 

Street Address:______________________________________________________

 

City / State / ZIP:_____________________________________________________

 

Telephone number (s):_________________________________________________

 

Email address:_______________________________________________________

                       

Please return this to:  Gay Liberation Network, 4404 N. Magnolia, Suite 420, Chicago, IL 60640 or email it to LGBTliberation@aol.com.  THANK YOU!

 

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GLN Calendar

Wednesday, April 11 -- Hear prominent anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan in Chicago!  5 PM at Grace Place, 637 S. Dearborn Street, 2^nd floor (wheelchair accessible).  $10 donation suggested.  For more details, see notice above.

 

Friday, April 13 -- Planning meeting for a May 18^th protest against the Chicago visit of homophobe General Peter Pace, Chairman of the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff.   The planning meeting will be at 7 PM at Ann Sather's Restaurant, 929 W. Belmont.  Please call email LGBTliberation@aol.com or call 773.209.1187 by 9 PM Thursday night so that we can let the restaurant know how many people to expect.  For more details, see notice above.

 

Saturday, April 14 -- Watch CAN TV's coverage of thousands of Chicagoans protesting the war on the 4^th anniversary of the U.S. invasion.  9 PM, cable channel 21 in Chicago.

 

Tuesday, May 1 -- Huge immigrant rights march and rally.  All are welcome to join the Gay Liberation Network's "Lesbians and Gays Support Immigrant Rights" contingent meeting at 11:30 AM at Chicago's Union Park (just south of the corner of Lake Street & Ashland Avenue).  Just look for our huge purple banner with the same message topped by two Pride flags.

 

Wednesday, May 2 - Monthly Gay Liberation Network general meeting. 7 PM at the Gerber Hart Library, 1127 W. Granville (just west of the "Granville" Red Line el station). We meet the first Wednesday of each month.

 

Friday, May 4 - Gay Liberation Network live call-in show on CAN TV, 6:30-6:55 PM on Cable Channel 21 in Chicago.  Tonight's show will preview the May 18^th protest against General Peter Pace.

 

Wednesday, May 9 -- Next meeting of Gay Liberation Network reading/discussion group -- non-members welcome!  The topic of this month's discussion group will be the lesbian and gay rights movement in early 20^th Century Europe.  We will meet at 7 PM at Chicago's LGBT library, Gerber Hart, at 1127 W. Granville.  To get access to the suggested readings, send an email with your contact info to LGBTliberation@aol.com.

Friday, May 18 -- Protest against homophobe General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Details to be announced, but please mark your calendars!  See details about planning meeting above.

 

Sunday, June 24 -- March with the Gay Liberation Network in this year's Pride Parade.  Details forthcoming, but please mark your calendars and plan on joining us!

 

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"Formed in response to three September '98 anti-gay bashings in the "Boy's Town" neighborhood...[we] respond to all serious hate crimes, no matter which scapegoated group is targeted. We will actively seek out and work with individuals and organizations in other communities to assist them in responding to hate crimes that target them. Only by the active involvement of grass roots people from all communities can we isolate the bigots and thus lessen hate crimes."                
-- from the GLN/CABN founding statement
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Gay Liberation Network
a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Direct Action Group
(formerly known as the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network)

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